All Abilities Golf at Golf Victoria
Meet Chris Hamilton. National Inclusion Manager at Golf Victoria.
A former Golf Services Manager at the Sandhurst Golf Club, now Chris has established himself as a leader in providing coaching, club-fitting, mobility solutions and playing opportunities for people living with a physical or neurological disability.
Chris's CV is impressive, but outweighs his experience working on international golf courses, is his innate desire to ensure golf is accessible to everyone.
Christian Hamilton with para-golfer.
The inclusion focus of Chris's role is to increase sustainable participation in all aspects of the game. Chris works with a number of people with disabilities and implements the national inclusion strategy for Golf Australia. Chris also develops high-quality inclusion and disability resources, tools and programs aimed at building an awareness to facilitate engagement and recognition of golfers with a disability.
In December 2017, Golf Victoria along with TAC and the State Government of Victoria launched Empower Golf Australia, a monthly "come and try' program open to people with disabilities. The idea behind the initiative is to provide people with disabilities with an opportunity to give "golf a go" in a social and supportive setting.
Ben Sweeny, Golf Development Manager at Golf Victoria says "Receiving funding from Sport and Recreation Victoria allows Chris to go out and do the work that he does with people with disabilities and without that support, these types of programs wouldn't exist."
Golf Victoria are hosting another Empower Golf "Come and Try Golf" clinic on 28 April, 2018 at the Sandhurst Golf Club. These clinics are an ideal way to introduce people with a disability to golf for the first time, or reintroduce former players to the game they love after accident or illness. The Clinics run from 10am-1pm with plenty of time to relax and chat to the other players. Family and friends of participants are always welcome. For information and to register, click here.
To find out more about the work Golf Victoria is doing in the inclusion space, watch the video below.
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